Recently (about 6 weeks ago) I bought an Echo Dot from Amazon. It even recognises my poor voice, which surprised and impressed me. In the latest Black Friday deal, Amazon are offering the latest version for about 30% more than I paid.
Sometimes, these bargains are not what they seem!
Although there may be some good bargains, do check.
Southgate News has a link to a USA YouTube presentation on these modes. There are lots of presentations about these digital modes on YouTube. FT8 works with low power and simple antennas, but is not a mode for chatting.
I have to admit, I have not yet tried FT4.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/november/ft8-and-ft4-lecture-video.htm#.X7ufE2iTLrc
Most definitely I am not a contest person! However, I usually take part in the RSGB organised activity contests each month on 2m and 70cm on Tuesday evenings. Usually most activity in these friendly contests is on SSB and after a short while I give up because of my poor voice.
Results for the November 70cm UKAC activity contest have just been published and I remain about a third of the way down the low power section. Seeing I only use 10W and the 2m (not 70cm!) big-wheel omni and rarely stay on for more than an hour of the contest, this is fine.
A little while ago I turned on the gear to go on 15m FT8 QRP. As usual, 2.5W and the indoor loop on the shack windowsill. Better results expected on 15m compared with 10m.
On 15m FT8 TX I have been spotted by 1 station in Greece and 18 stations spotted on RX. No great DX yet.
UPDATE 1204z: 2 spot of me on TX with 53 stations spootted so far on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1820z: 6 stations have spotted me today on TX and 170 stations spotted on RX in 5 continents.
Stations spotted on 15m
FT8 RX today to 1650z
OK, as a non-US person I admit that I am not a great fan of President Trump.
He still seems totally against conceding he lost the presidential election and has tried, in vain, to contest the results in courts alleging "election fraud" despite no evidence. To the rest of the world he comes across as a spoilt child. He has been noticable by his absence of late.
It would be much better for world democracy if he just conceded and went back to running his business empire and playing golf. Hanging on to power does no good for democracy and reminds me of a certain leader in 1936 at the Olympics.
The people of the USA have spoken. Just listen.
Overnight, I left 2m FT8 running on RX only. Just after breakfast I resynced the time and turned on TX (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna).
In the last 6 hours, 5 Gs have spotted me and I have spotted 19 stations with the furthermost being DL6YBF (471km). No QSOs yet.
UPDATE 1324z: 41 stations in 7 countries so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. 1 QSO. 17 stations in 4 countries spotted me on TX.
UPDATE 2230z: QRT.
